The Florida Center for Cybersecurity, also known as Cyber Florida, was created by the Florida State Legislature in 2014 within the University of South Florida to help Florida become a national leader in cybersecurity education, academic and practical research, and community outreach and engagement. While part of the University of South Florida, Cyber Florida works on behalf of the State of Florida at large, often carrying out special projects on behalf of the Florida Legislature, to help the citizens, businesses, and organizations of Florida stay safer in cyberspace. Cyber Florida engages a large network of public and private partners to achieve our goals, spanning public organizations such as law enforcement, public school districts, and state, county, and local government, to private companies that provide services and contribute to Florida’s growing cyber-related economy.

We work to build a robust pipeline of future professionals by introducing cyber safety and career awareness programs to K–12 schools and helping Florida’s public colleges and universities offer degree and certificate programs that produce ready-to-hire graduates. We create new, more accessible career pathways for career changers to enter the field, helping to address our nation’s critical cyber workforce shortage. We support and facilitate academic research that contributes to our nation’s competitive edge and conduct studies that yield new insights into cybercrime, privacy, user behavior, and organizational needs to help craft local, state, and national policy. Lastly, we engage millions of Floridians through cyber safety awareness campaigns and host events and resources to help protect those populations and organizations that are most vulnerable to cybercrime, such as small businesses, local governments, and senior citizens.

OUR HISTORY

The Florida Center for Cybersecurity was established by the state legislature (Chapter 1004.444) in June 2014 to “position Florida and its related workforce as a national leader in cybersecurity through education, research, and community engagement.” Established under the auspices of the University of South Florida (USF), the center was charged to work with all 12 State University System of Florida (SUS) institutions to:

  • Assist in the creation of jobs in the state’s cybersecurity industry and enhance the existing cybersecurity workforce.
  • Act as a cooperative facilitator for state business and higher education communities to share cybersecurity knowledge, resources, and training.
  • Seek out partnerships with major military installations to assist, when possible, in homeland cybersecurity defense initiatives.
  • Attract cybersecurity companies to the state with an emphasis on defense, finance, health care, transportation, and utility sectors.

These words, taken directly from Chapter 1004.444 of the 2014 Florida Statutes, are the basis for our three primary mission areas—education, research, and outreach.

In July 2024, Statute 1004.444 was updated to the following:

(1) The Florida Center for Cybersecurity, which may also be referred to as ‘Cyber Florida,’ is established within the University of South Florida, under the direction of the president of the university or the president’s designee.

(2) The mission and goals of the center are to:

(a) Position Florida as the national leaders in cybersecurity and its related workforce primarily through advancing and funding education and research and development initiatives in cybersecurity and related fields, with a secondary emphasis on community engagement and cybersecurity awareness.

(b) Assist in the creation of jobs in the state’s cybersecurity industry and enhance the existing workforce through education, research, applied science, and engagements and partnerships with the private and military sectors.

(c) Act as a cooperative facilitator for state business and higher education communities to share cybersecurity knowledge, resources, and training.

(d) Seek out research and development agreements and other partnerships with major military installations and affiliated contractors to assist, when possible, in homeland security defense initiatives.

(e) Attract cybersecurity companies and jobs to this state, with an emphasis on the defense, finance, health care, transportation, and utility sectors.

(f) Conduct, fund, and facilitate research and applied science that leads to the creation of new technologies and software packages that have military and civilian applications and that can be transferred for military and homeland defense purposes or for sale or use in the private sector.

(3) Upon receiving a request for assistance from the Department of Management Services, the Florida Digital Services, or another state agency, the center is authorized, but may not be compelled by the agency, to conduct, consult on, or otherwise assist any state-funded initiatives related to:

(a) Cybersecurity training, professional development, and education for state and local government employees, including school districts and the judicial branch; and

(b) Increasing the cybersecurity effectiveness of the state’s and local governments’ technology platforms and infrastructure, including school districts and the judicial branch.

WHAT IS CYBERSPACE?

For many, cyberspace is an abstract concept, but in reality it touches almost every aspect of lives. From services such as banking, government, travel, shopping, dining, and healthcare to the computers in our cars, smart appliances, and medical devices, cyberspace is an integral component of the modern world. In this context, cybersecurity is protection from and resilience against potential harm or other unwanted coercive change caused by others in and from cyberspace, achieved through a confluence of technology, people, and policy.